Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-05-05
THE RESPONSIBILITY.

Aho experimental 4uJeI"DldIo law 10
still experimenting. The many and seri-
GUS difficulties attending the attempt OF
the Government to curb the power of
the great railway corporations, is most
conclusive proof of the pressing necessity
for such curbing The railway corpora
tions have SO long wrung lawless and ex-
cessive tribute from the people, that
they have come to regard such
tribute as a legitimate inheritance.
The railroad power is firmly seated,
and it will take more than one effort to
hurl it from its places of strength. The
interstate law Of the present is but the
initial attempt The conflict between the
rights of the public, and the usurpation
of the railroad corporation has but begun.
Reform is making its first assault on the
carefully planned and constructed
intrenchments Of a great and pow
erful abuse. Naturally the first
triumph is with organized power
and cemented strength. The raw
and hastily marshalled popular levies
have failed in the first assault But they
are not by any means discouraged. The
Interstate law is an experiment, it is
true, but is an experiment imperativeiy
called for. 1t is a National manifesto.
1t is an announcement of an unalterable
National policy. Crude though it is, it
contains the germs of final and inevita-
bic victory. The Interstate law has
the irresistible might of the Nation at its
back; it is vital with popular life, and
and its success is as certain as is the exist
ence of the Nation. Additional legisla-
ton is required. In many respects the
law will have to be amended Its active
and vivifying principle, however, has
been born for all time. And whence
comes the necessity for this bitter and
desperate fight thus thrust upon the
people? Who is responsible for the
state of affairs that has rendered this
desperate and bitter conflict necessity?
Why does there exist in a free country
an abuse so powerful that the full
strength of the Nation has to be invoked
for its abolition? The answer follows
the question. The answer is read in
those words Of such wide and evil import
to the Nation: "twenty-four years of Re-
publican rule" 1t is the Republican
party who is responsible for the over
shadowing power of the railroad
corporations. 10 the Republican
party is directly chargeable the
bitter and gigantic struggle now
in progress between corporation and the
public. The railroad corporations have
drawn their evil strength from Republi-
can nourishment, and through Republi-
can fostering have they become menace
to the Nation. Republicanism and Cor
poration have ever been firm allies. 1t
has always been case of mutual back
scratching. Corporation was given the
entire of plunder to the National treas
ury by Republican Administrations,
and in return that plunder main
tanned the Republican Administrations in
power. 1t was bargain of cor
ruption, and negotiation of fraud. AS
the power of the railroad corporations
grew, SO thrived the Republican party.
1t was a question only of mutual benefit,
formulated strictly on Republican basis.
This characteristic application of Repub-
lican politics TO National affairs was one
OF the many similar causes leading
to the overthrow of the Repub-
lican party at the polls in 1884. |
1t is one of the strongest of the doors the
people have closed upon Republican op-
portunities. 1t is one of the broadsst |
and firmest of the many seals of condem-
nation the Nation has placed upon Re-
publican policy. The overthrow of Cor
poration will follow the overthrow of Re-
The Interstate law is the
weapon of the people. This weapon will
be duly strengthened and sharpened
until it will be able to finally strike
home.